Blood Bound Ellis Hunter 9780008787127

The deadly competition begins in 2026's hottest fantasy romance debut

You cannot forfeit. You cannot run. You duel or you die.

Astrid has always known she is destined to die. She is the last Nachstern witch and heir to the Queendom of Arturea, cursed to duel her rival from the Kingdom of Vatra for the source of all magic. She only has her familiar, her potions and her wits to aid her; her opponent, Prince Zryan, has a massive Hel-damned dragon. She's going to die, and the chance to cure the Blight ravaging her queendom will die with her.

Deep in dragon country, blade-juggler Skylar is searching for her best friend, who she fears has been taken in the king's conscription of those with Blooded powers. She despises the royals, but the path to find him may just take her closer to them - and the witches - than she would like...

As the duel looms, Skylar and Astrid's fates intertwine, forcing them to choose between loyalty and survival in a world where every decision could lead to ruin.

Set against a once-in-a-generation duel to the death between witches and dragons, Blood Bound is an epic romantic fantasy that will grab hold of your heart and leave you breathless.

Ellis Hunter is the pen name for Katie Ellis-Brown and Becky Hunter, two friends who wanted to write about two friends. Katie Ellis-Brown is an Irish British writer and editor who lives in Cornwall with her husband, daughter, and two familiars (black cats). Becky Hunter is a UK-based author, book publicist, and romance reader who is currently ruled by her two rescue ponies. They met while working in publishing and bonded over their shared obsession with fantasy. Blood Bound is a love letter to the genre and their debut novel.

'Original, sexy, pulse-pounding romantasy fun with a beautiful friendship at its heart. I couldn't put Blood Bound down! I'll be first in line for book two, and in the meantime will be dreaming of feline familiars and sexy men on dragons...' -Sable Sorensen, USA Today bestselling author of Dire Bound

'Everything you could want in a romantasy. Searing, suspenseful and sexy' -Hazel McBride, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Fate Forged in Fire

'I was swept headfirst into Astrid and Skylar's worlds. This book has it all: witches, dragons, and an epic duel for all magic! What's not to love? This book is going to take fantasy readers by storm' -Alexandra Christo, author of To Kill A Kingdom

'Blood Bound is a tour de force. Epic worldbuilding, twists that reinvent tropes, and masterful characterisation give a new definition to romantasy. Come for the romance, but stay for the sisterhood!' -Sonia Tagliareni, author of Deathbringer

'A new fantasy supernova - packed with the tropes we love (hello enemies-to-lovers and feisty familiars), twists that keep you gasping, and with an emphasis on female friendship that makes it feel refreshingly original. Feed book two directly into my veins!' -Amy McCulloch, internationally bestselling author of Breathless

'A standout in the romantasy genre. This is a true masterclass in writing and world-building, with plot-twists that gripped me until the very end ... I am bereft now that I have finished it' -Heba Al-Wasity, author of Weavingshaw

'An electrifying debut that sweeps readers into a vibrant whirlwind of an adventure. Featuring plenty of dragons, danger, and dimples(!), Hunter has crafted a fresh and exciting tale' -Chiara Bullen, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance

'The romantasy trend is going nowhere in 2026 - and this brilliant debut is leading the pack' - Sun

'Does what fantasy does best - offers a heart-pounding tale of magic, romance and betrayal with a thoughtful commentary on our world' - The Bookseller